SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequences5.5.12.3 Colorado5.5.12.3.1 Impacts from Cantonment ConstructionLess Than Significant ImpactsThe current number of Soldiers stationed and training at FTC and PCMS would remain the same.However, some additional cantonment facilities would be constructed to meet the needs of theunaccompanied Soldiers that are currently housed off post. Construction of these projects wouldcause only temporary noise impacts. After construction is completed, noise levels would be similar tobaseline conditions. Consequently, impacts to noise would continue to be less than significant.5.5.12.3.2 Impacts from Range ConstructionNo ImpactsUnder the No Action alternative, no range construction projects are currently planned. Therefore, noadditional noise would be generated from construction and no impacts would occur.5.5.12.3.3 Impacts from Live-Fire TrainingLess Than Significant ImpactsNoise from ordnance use. Noise from live-fire training would continue at levels that are similar tothose occurring currently. Noise levels from weapons firing and ordnance detonations are quitevariable, with noise levels at long distances influenced in part by weather conditions. Small armsfiring can produce relatively high peak noise levels at localized areas around the range. As indicatedby past estimates of noise contours, firing noise levels do not cause noise levels in off-post residentialareas to exceed generally accepted land use compatibility criteria. Noise from weapon firing wouldconstitute a less than significant impact.Noise from military vehicles. Tactical and support vehicles would travel within FTC during militarytraining exercises. Vehicles would also travel from FTC to PCMS in support of training exercises atthose installations. Convoys of tactical and support vehicles are typically are spaced about 165 to 330feet apart and are timed at least 15 to 30 minutes apart. These convoy procedures prevent situationswhere convoy vehicles dominate local traffic flow for substantial periods. Instead of creatingconditions where military vehicle traffic dominates traffic noise conditions for a noticeable amount oftime, convoy procedures result in noise from convoy traffic occurring as a sequence of multipleindividual vehicle pass-by events within a background of normal traffic noise conditions. Therefore,there would be less than significant impacts from traffic noise levels along public roads.5.5.12.3.4 Impacts from Maneuver TrainingLess Than Significant ImpactsNoise from military vehicles. The current number of Soldiers stationed and training at FTC andPCMS would remain the same and the frequency and intensity of maneuver training at FTC andPCMS would continue at near current levels. Maneuver training would continue using existingequipment and training methods at current off-road training areas. Impacts are likely to be lessbecause maneuver training would occur within the boundaries of training areas where sensitive noisereceptors are fewer. Noise impacts from maneuver training would be a less than significant impact.February 2008 5-236 2/25th SBCT Final EIS